Classes begin

We had our first lecture today with Dr. Sofi who is a practicing internal medicine specialist. He has studied the Medditerrenean diet and lifestyle and has done a lot of research on the topic. The first thing he pointed out is that it is not a "diet" as we think about it, it is a lifestyle. I feel like I am already understanding is lifestyle after just a few days. When we go out to eat, we spend at least 2.5 - 3 hours at the restaurant. The food delivery is methodically brought out with plant of time to enjoy each course.  This spacing prevents me from scrafing my food down so I don't feel super bloated when I am done eating. I cant say that I see a have difference in portion sizes really, at least not in the places where we have eaten. Because if all the courses were served on the same plate  at once it would pretty much look like a regular american size meal. The delivery and spacing of each course makes it different. So a couple of nights ago they brought out first course, pasta, then I got my salad, no ranch dressing here..lol - just straight up balsamic vinegar and olive oil, which I use anyway. So no problem for me. Then they brought out the third course, my delicious pork chop. And there was wine among that and bread. It was awesome! Of course after that we went to get our gelato.  It was not rushed, it settled well in my tummy and was so enjoyable!  The other part is the walking... walking, walking, walking. That is what we spend most of our time doing, which is great. I have been averaging 18,000 to 20,000 steps a day. Back home on a good day I averaged like 6,000. So I am walking a lot!
At 3:00 I have my first cooking class.  Can't wait for that! Will try to get some photos up soon. You an look on Facebook. I put a free there.  Va bene!

Florence here I am!

I made it to Florence. It is amazing here. My class instructor met me at the train station and we headed to our apartment building. We are one block from the Academia, the place where Michaelangelo's David is located. Two blocks from the duomo the most photographed structure in Florence. Shoppers will not be bored around here. Shops on the streets and in every building pretty much. Foodies will find a restaurant, cafe, wine bar, pizzeria, every 10 feet. You could go to a different restaurant or 3 every day and never go to the same place twice in a year! Last night I was alone and managed to meet a couple from Houston, TX. I boldly asked if I could join them for dinner. We had such a great time together. After dinner I took them to Groms gelateria, the best gelato in Florence acording to my instructors and Rick Steves. Organic and all natural. I had pistachio and coffee flavors... I almost fainted it was so delicious. Today I am in my apartment. I am housed on the first floor with the instructors. So glad because the other students are on 2nd floor. No elevators and I have a super heavy load. My room has glass doors that open into a courtyard. I will post pictures on Facebook. I haven't figured out the photo upload from my camera yet. I have to get on a real computer on campus to do that, but I can mobile upload to Facebook.  Well that is all for now. Ciao.

Venice Rocks!

Wow I just spent like 20 minutes writing a post and something kicked me out and I lost it... too tired go replicate it.  Will post something tomorrow... bottom line, I'm in Venice now and all I can say is that Venice is freaking amazing.... night all.

Butterfly Flutters

As time approaches and I think of this trip I am getting butterflies in my tummy. Just 18 more days until I board that plane for Venice. But first I have to get through exam week and wrap up thinks at work.  Much to do but I can only approach it one day at a time. Live in the moment and don't dress out... yes this will be my mantra for the next two weeks.  It is hard for me to believe that I have been planning this trip for nearly 4 years.  Suddenly I feel like I have so much to do.  I am working on staying focused (at least until my last exam on Thursday).
Well all I can tell myself is whatever gets done, - gets done.... all else will just have to be.  Ciao for now... time to study.

My Go Girl is here!

So, for those of you who don't know this about me... I have an aversion to public restrooms. I am not going to lie, I would rather risk bustin' my bladder than using a nasty restroom. I have no idea what public restrooms overseas are like.  Surely there are some descent ones. But I have also heard nightmares.  Rather than risking it I decided to get one of these!
I don't remember now how I found out about the Go Girl, but am I glad I did.  I will be able to "go" standing up!!! Yep.  It is a device for women to pee standing up.  I know it is not the most pleasant thing to talk about, but it blesses me to have one of these.  It came in its own cylindrical case, along with a storage bag for after it is used and toilet tissue!! Isn't it cool?!

By the way, this is a handy tool to have when camping, hiking, or spending any amount of time in remote locations.

1 Woman, 1 River, 2600 miles

Forgot to give a shout out to my friend, and blogger Janet Moreland.  She recently took off on her own big adventure starting at Brower's Springs, Montana... 1 Woman, 1 River, 2600 miles. She is on a solo expedition on the Missouri river. This is her blog link  http://loveyourbigmuddy.com/  She will be the first woman to complete this feat in history... Go Janet... my thoughts and prayers are with you!  Godspeed.... oxox

It's been a while

Although it has been a while, I continue planning and preparing (32 days to departure).  We had a class orientation meeting a couple of weeks ago.  Got more details on our schedule. The class I will be in  actually starts at 3:30 every day, which means I am free to do anything until class time every day.  I could get up early and catch a train to Pisa, or museum hop, as long as I am back in time for class. Of course, we will have assignments and I will likely have to use the computer lab on campus, so it's not like I will be roaming the streets of Florence everyday, just nearly every day!  We have several excursions scheduled.  One will be an all day trip to the Cinque Terre.  Rick Steves' website has become my #1 travel resource, this link is from his site - check it out!  http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/destinations/italy/cinqueterre.htm   I am looking forward to an all day hike that day ending with a dip in the Mediterranean.   We will also visit a Parmigiano Cheese Factory, note to self, stock up on some cheese... as well as a traditional Balsamic Vinegar Consortium producer in Modena. By the way, balsamic vinegar is my fave... and I have a brand that I get which is produced in Modena.  A visit to a pasta maker is also on the itinerary.  We will learn about "slow food" - the opposite of fast food, which is the Mediterranean way to eat... I hope to be Mediterreneanized by the time I get back, I think I just made up that word.  I am looking forward to learning how to slow down in life.  Especially after the last month between class and work, been busy and stressed. Enough for now... Ciao amicos, more to follow.

So I made reservations at this gentleman's restaurant in Panzano Italy.  I found out about him in one of the books I read, it was a short passage about a restaurant in this little hill town in Tuscany   I did some research and have been learning about Dario Cecchini.  I found out the family has a bed and breakfast where I booked two nights.  I am looking forward to meeting Dario.  This article and video posted on his Facebook page and I got so excited about meeting him.  I thought I would post so you can hear this interview.  He seems like a guy who loves life and loves his craft!! I will be seated at the table in the background there on June 22 for diner!!! Can hardly wait!
http://www.oliveto.com/ourcommunity/movies/a-visit-with-dario-cecchini

Well, I just looked at my ticket information as I do several times a week... as if the time will get here faster hahaha, anyway, it is now only 82 days until departure.  I have been busy with work and school, but also looking for gadgets that I may not know I need for my trip.  I did manage to make two purchases recently that will come in handy before, during and after my trip.  First his lovely Marmont rain jacket.  I have been wanting and looking for a good quality rain jacket for a long, long time.  I found this one on REI at 50% off.  Love, love, love it.  Amazing that a girl can get so excited about a rain jacket. Oh well, I guess I am not hard to please.  Notice the socks also.  I have such a hard time paying a lot of money for socks and underwear, maybe TMI, but still.  However a couple of years ago I paid $15 for a pair of keen socks and after wearing time over and over for those two years I realized they have not worn out at all, they still have the same elasticity as when I bought them and are like new.  So I splurged again on a pair or REI socks.  These are awesome merino wool.  They regulate my foot temp which is nice because my feet usually get really hot.  Anyway, I decided I am going to get a few more pricey socks, what the heck right?



My other sweet acquisition which arrive yesterday was a pair of hiking shoes.  Keen, my favorite shoes in the universe, I think they were make specifically for MY feet.  Anyway these sweet shoes are da bomb!  They are so comfy! I have to break them in, so I am wearing them right now actually. Although, I feel they are already broken in as they are so comfortable.

I have been playing my learn Italian CDs in the car also, so I am picking up a few works.  Listening to the language and reading some things in Italian I am finding that I can make out enough words to get by.  I am hoping that by the time I return I will know a bit.  Anyway, Ciao for now my friends.

It's been a couple of weeks since I blogged.  Well not much has been going on in terms of planning.  I have been busy and went to Ohio for the weekend.  I have been reading a little in my travel books.  I found a butcher named Dario Cecchini so I research him a little.  Turns out he is in Panzano which is in the Chianti area.  He has a restaurant and from what I have seen I believe it will be fun to eat there.  So I was checking out the website and found that his sister has a B & B.  I contacted her and arranged a two night stay at her B & B and she was gracious enough to make reservations for me at Dario's restaurant.  I am so excited!   I am finally jotting down an itinerary of places I plan to go and stay so I don't overbook and double book myself.  I arranged a car rental for the day after my study ends for a few days.  It is recommended that I obtain an international driver's permit which I can get at AAA.  But my driver's license expires on my birthday in three weeks so I will have to renew it first.  I pulled out my Italian at a Glance book today and have been looking up some words.  I hope to be able to pick up a fair amount while I am there.  Well I cant think of anything else so Ciao for now.

First Class Meeting

Today we had the first class meeting. There are 16 of us signed up for this study in Florence.  They are extending the registration an additional week in case we have any classmates or friends who want to come along.  I am telling you I am really excited! More so now, especially after one of our faculty said in 4 months and 2 days we will be in Florence! WOW. In my mind the trip is 6 months away, June right?  Only February is 2 days away.  I have a roommate now. Her name is Kate.  I didn't have time to chat with her, but I will get to know her in the next few months.  WE are all so excited.  By the way, we are all females on the trip.  So the girls are going to Italy! Yippee!!! They highly recommended we start walking more in preparation for the trip as we will be doing tons of walking while there, that is the Mediterranean way.  We got tips on what to wear, how to pack and make sure we have room to bring our loot back!  We also signed up for the specific course we want to take while there. There are two options, one the Mediterranean diet and the other was nutrition in the sports industry. Being the foodie that I am of course I chose the Mediterranean diet.  We get our own little chef jacket.  So I ordered one today which will have my name on it.  I considered having them put "Mamma Jen Rachow" on it, but I decided to leave the MJ out... Anyway, I am really stoked!
Ciao for now my friends! :o)

Luggage

I have been looking at all sorts of luggage trying to figure out what the best option would be.  In the last year or so I purchased a hard shell luggage set with spinner wheels, fancy and cool. But they can be cumbersome to roll around if I have more than one.  As I will be abroad for one month, I really need something that I can easily transport around the cities I will be in and has maximum packing space. Many of the streets in Italy have cobblestone streets from what I have been reading so wheelies can be a challenge.  After several months of looking at a multiplicity of options I narrowed my selection down.  I have been pricing this set for months now.  I would never pay full price for this set, although I will surely use these more than once.  The other dilemma was determining what size to get? Do I get a 21, 26 or 32 inch bag?  So I went to Kohl's today (one of my faves) to look at the set and compare the sizes.  The price on these ebags was nearly half of what they sell for in the store.  I was extremely blessed to find them on sale 50% off at Kohls! SCORE! So after 30 minutes of unzipping, zipping, measuring, feeling, picturing the possibilities I decided to get these two (well there are actually 3)!  The coolest features: all three bags have backpack straps!  I know I can only carry one on my back at a time... The larger bag (I decided on the 32 inch) will be my checked bag.  this will be the one I carry on my shoulders.  The smaller (2-in-1) bag, notice it has a small detachable daypack on the front.  This smaller bag will be my carry on.  I will be able to fit my laptop, tablet, a change of close, and a few other reading materials and accessories.  I know it is just luggage, but after months of searching, to find them on sale 50% off, and the Kohl's sales clerk gave me an additional 15% discount (I had a coupon at home, but it isn't good until Thursday) I saved over $300 on this set! MJ is a happy girl tonight.  Thank you God for your goodness and special deals!

Research

Research material.  I am not an avid planner.  More of a dreamer really.  I love to learn information about places I want to visit.  So I started a library of books (and one DVD so far).  I have also been listening to a learn Italian DVD.  "Vorrei del vino per favore" will get me a glass of wine, I am learning the important phrases first of course, where is the bathroom, I would like a glass of wine, or beer, where is ... It has been fun, although a bit confusing with my Spanish as some Italian words, although similar to Spanish are pronounced differently.


 For example Thanks, - Italian "Grazie" (phonetically gra-tsi).  Spanish - gracias  (gra-see-ahs)  So I think I may be speaking Spanglitalian, for sure I will have a Spanish accent when I speak Italian!  The languages are similar, but not as much as one would think.

So far I have reserved a room in Venice for two nights here http://www.venicehoteladriatico.com/
this hotel is close to the train station (2 or 3 blocks). I will get there via water taxi which will drop me off in one of the Venice canals very close to the hotel.  Seems strange to go to a city where there are no cars.  Random facts about Venice:

• There are about 3,000 alley ways in Venice which if laid end-to-end would stretch for 120 miles.
• There are around 400 bridges - I will try to track how many I cross during my visit.
• Population of Venice is less than 60,000 and half of them are involved in tourism

And one last quick fact... Vivaldi, probably my favorite composer was born in Venice in 1678.
Ciao miei amici!

Taking the Blog plunge

In 124 days I will board an airplane in St. Louis, MO that will take me to Atlanta, Georgia.  Shortly after I shall board another airplane that will take me across the wide pond known as the Atlantic.  I will land in the lovely city of Venice, Italy where I will spend a couple of days recovering from jet lag and taking in the sights.  Then on June 1st I will take a train from Venice to Florence where I will spend three weeks studying the Mediterranean Diet and Lifestyle.  So I, along with my classmates will be cooking and tasting all sorts of Mediterranean dishes and learning about the active lifestyle the people of the region live.  In my spare time I will have time to visit museums and do other things, not sure what yet... this is why I am calling my blog "Adventures with MJ"! For those who may not now what MJ stands for... it's Mamma Jen, the synonym I use for the "G" word (grandma).  Yes, the grandkids call me Mamma Jen, and sometimes "MJ".  I will answer to both.  So stay tuned and if you want to live this journey vicariously thourh me you are welcome to do so....